It gradually became clear to Kleindienst that even John Mitchell, his predecessor and close friend who left the Justice Department for the Nixon campaign in 1972, was involved in the cover-up.

In April 1963, it became too much.

"It got to the point where I just had to quit and recuse myself of anything to do with Watergate," Kleindienst says.

Today, although he says he is disappointed by what he has to show for the more fast-paced days of his life, he remains optimistic.

He argues that a strong commitment to personal values can help avoid the type of disaster that beset the Nixon administration.

"When a presidential counselor has the courage to say, 'Mr. President, you are wrong,' Watergate will not occur," he writes.

"I don't particularly care for Mr. Clinton," he says, but adds: "Any of the errors and omission of which he has been accused do not compare with Watergate.... Watergate involved the obstruction of justice."

--Amber L. Ramage contributed to the reporting of this article.